NHL Trade Speculation: 12 Players Who Would Benefit from Change of Scenery

With Roberto Luongo's realization that his days may be numbered in Vancouver, the goaltender regarded by many as the best in the world declared that he would consider waiving his no-trade clause. While it could outwardly be viewed as a selfless, team-first act, make no mistake, Luongo wants to play. Whether he gets the chance to play in Vancouver or not remains to be seen.

As the war of attrition known as the Stanley Cup playoffs leaves more teams in its wake each day, players like Luongo are left to wonder what their future has in store for them. There were dozens of names that hit the rumor mill at the trade deadline, and dozens more who will become free agents July 1st.

Whether they are under contract or not, some players may have worn out their welcome and others just may not fit into their team's long-term plans anymore. There are veterans who want a final shot at winning a Stanley Cup, free agents looking to cash in, and players who have fallen out of favor with their coach or home town fans.

Here are 12 players who could use a change of scenery this offseason.

Alex Semin

While it is expected that Alex Semin will move on from the Capitals, it will be largely due to his price tag. The free agent winger earned over $6.7 million this year while his offensive production dipped for the third consecutive year. Semin has no shortage of talent, and that potential will keep him on the grocery list for many hungry general managers.

Semin has a reputation for being lazy and can disappear from the score sheet for games at a time. He's gotten a couple of timely goals this postseason, but look for this Russian to be skating in another city next fall.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash was the guy who everyone thought would be gone before the trade deadline. It's still thought that the big Columbus winger will be traded on or around the draft. His waiver of the no trade clause was a fairly clear sign to Columbus that he doesn't wish to be a part of another rebuild.

The Blue Jackets had a fairly steep price tag on Nash, which kept him in Ohio. They will need to be more reasonable with their demands if they expect to get anything for their star captain.

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla is the classic example of a veteran player who has meant everything to his organization. Every year around February, if his Calgary Flames are on the playoff bubble, Iginla's name surfaces. As one of the premier power forwards in the league, Iginla has been a model of consistency even when his team is not.

One of the "good guys" of the game, Iginla deserves to be on a contender. As much as he would like it to be Calgary, the Flames have been hit-or-miss lately when it comes to postseason hockey. He can help any franchise, and it would be great to see how much better he can make any team.

Zach Parise

Not to say that Zach Parise is struggling in New Jersey, but as a free agent, Parise is expected to sign a big money deal elsewhere. He's a strong skater with a deceptively quick shot. His low center of gravity makes him difficult to move off the puck.

As the prize offensive player available in free agency this summer, teams will be lining up to talk to him. The Devils' well documented financial woes could eliminate them as the favorite to get Parise's signature. He will be 28 this July, and what better way to celebrate than to sign an enormous big money long-term deal with a Stanley Cup contender.

Dustin Brown

A late addition to the trade rumors in February was Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown.

While nothing ever came of the stories, it can never feel good as team captain to hear that your bosses are looking to get you out of town. Brown responded like a true professional and stepped up his game for the Kings, leading them to a first round upset of the NHL's No. 1 hockey team, Vancouver Canucks.

While Brown has been with the Kings since 2003, his blue collar style seems to fit more of an Eastern Conference style. It's hard to imagine Brown leaving the Kings if they make a deep playoff run, but there may need to be some fences mended if he stays.

Mike Green

Mike Green probably needs to rest this offseason more than anything else. Green has had a tough time staying healthy, playing only 82 games combined over the last two seasons. The high scoring blue-liner has been a shell of his offensive self lately, hardly approaching the 76 points from the 2010-11 season.

Washington as a team has been sub-par this year, and there were whispers that Green and his $5 million salary could be shipped out. If the Capitals hit the golf course early this spring, there will be big changes in DC, and Green could be a goner.

Ryan Miller

If you're a Buffalo Sabres fan, you are probably looking up my address to burn my house down. Let's face facts though, the pride of America in goal has been carrying the Sabres for a long, long time.

Miller had a rough start to the year, before turning it on late and nearly getting the Sabres to the playoffs. It's sacrilegious to even consider moving Buffalo's franchise player, but Miller could bring a hefty return to Buffalo while his value is still high.

Miller would certainly be happy to go somewhere that he doesn't have to stand on his head every night to keep the team around .500. Again, Buffalo fans, put down the pitch forks and the torches. Miller isn't going anywhere, unless the Sabres go into the tank early next year.

If management hits the rebuild button early, Buffalo's biggest commodity is the guy between the pipes.

Scott Gomez

I'll spare Scott Gomez any more embarrassment about his stats this year. I'll just say this: In 38 games this season, Gomez scored two more goals than I did. In case you were wondering, I did not score any NHL goals this year.

For his two goals, our boy Scott earned a cool $7.5 million. The good news for Montreal is that Gomez only has two years left of this ridiculous deal. The bad news is that they are probably going to be stuck paying him all of it.

Gomez didn't just start being terrible. He took advantage of a bad free agent market and signed a crazy good deal for himself. Unfortunately, he finds himself on a very bad team, with a very angry fan base. I wonder what dollar amount Gomez would accept for a buyout?

The next two years could be uncomfortable if Scotty G has to stay at the Bell Centre.

Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo is annually at or near the top of every major statistical category for the NHL goaltenders. He usually shoulders most of the starts for the Canucks, averaging 66 starts over his 11 NHL seasons. Getting replaced in favor of Cory Schneider in the playoffs may have signaled the end of his tenure in the Pacific Northwest.

Luongo controls his own destiny with a no trade clause, but has stated that he will not hold up any trades if he is not the starter for the Canucks next year. It's a great problem to have in Vancouver, because they may have had to match an offer sheet to RFA Cory Schneider, who has served as Luongo's backup over the last four years.

If the Canucks can get a good deal for Luongo, then they will only have to pay for one starting goalie on the roster. The good news for Luongo is that he'll probably be headed to a pretty good team that is complete except for in goal.

Bobby Ryan

The Anaheim Ducks needed to hit the reset button on their season right around the middle of December. When Bruce Boudreau took over the team, the Ducks were in a tailspin (pun intended) toward the cellar of the Western Conference.

Mired in the middle of the slump was their budding superstar, left-wing Bobby Ryan. Boudreau's arrival initiated a comeback by the Ducks that had them finish strong, but fall short of the playoffs. With a huge pile of talent in Anaheim, the Ducks should bounce back in 2012-13.

Ryan, who finished with identical scoring numbers to his rookie year, found his name being whispered as trade bait. A strong finish by Ryan and his team offers promise for better things next year.

A new coach with a more up tempo offensive mind could be the remedy Ryan needs, but if the Ducks start off badly this year, Bobby Ryan could be looking for a new flock (pun intended, yet again).

Johan Franzen

The playoffs have typically been a time for Johan Franzen to assert his big body and scoring touch. Not so much this year, as the Red Wings were bounced rather easily by their division rivals in Nashville. Conspicuously absent from the score sheet was their big Swedish winger, who led Detroit in goals this year with 29.

Using his playoff prowess to lure Wings GM Ken Holland into an 11-year contract, Franzen seems to mail it in more often than not. He has hardly improved at all since signing his lifetime deal, and one could argue with his no-show in this year's playoffs, he has actually regressed.

Franzen is still only 32 and has the size and skill to electrify when he wants to. It's the hope of Detroit that he will regain the form that he was headed to in 2009. Dropping a rumor or two about shipping him to Columbus might give "the Mule" the wake up call he needs.

Patrick Kane

Speaking of comfortable, it seems that Patrick Kane is just that in Chicago.

The mercurial Blackhawk winger set the bar pretty high by winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 and matching his number by posting 88 points. Since then, it has been a steady decline for Kane and the Hawks. A cap-cutting house cleaning after the Cup win hurt the team, but the Blackhawks still boast one of the most talented rosters in the league.

Kane's struggles and Chicago's inability to keep the puck out of its own net earlier this year sparked rumors that Kane could be shipped out for a proven goalie. Jeremy Roenick, the shy, soft-spoken (more puns intended) NBC hockey analyst suggested as much earlier this year.

While Kane's off-ice antics are noted, they seem to be fewer and less headline worthy lately. His talent is undeniable, but after a disappointing season, a virtual no-show in the playoffs (including a Game 6 tantrum) Kane might be making himself expendable in the Windy City.

Most of these players will probably remain on their teams headed into the 2012-13 season, but keep an eye on them. The market for talent in the NHL is deep, but sometimes players need a wake-up call, or kick in the tail to remind them that no single player is greater than the team. Other players may just need to find their mojo in a different place.

As the saying goes, one team's Alexander Semin could be another team's treasure.

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